Undergraduate Academic Progress
Policy Statement
Undergraduates must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and a quantitative unit requirement for satisfactory academic progress. In addition, a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for conferral of a baccalaureate degree.
Undergraduates normally are expected to plan their academic programs so that they can complete 180 units in four years (twelve quarters), including the requirements for a major and the General Education (Ways/GERs), Writing and Rhetoric, and Language Requirements. Satisfactory academic progress is, on average, 45 units per academic year for four years leading to at least 180 units, a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, and a baccalaureate degree.
While undergraduates are expected to register for a minimum of 12 units, they are required to earn at least 9 units each quarter (by the grade submission deadline) and at least 36 units over their most recent three quarters of Stanford enrollment (by the grade submission deadline of the third quarter). In addition, students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Transfer work completed at other institutions is not considered in this calculation.
Degree Process standards for coterminal students are described in the coterminal bachelor's and master's degrees section of the Student Policies section.
Undergraduate Academic Progress
Until conferral of the undergraduate degree, a student’s academic progress is monitored by the office of Academic Advising, under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) as a designee of the Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP) and its Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP).
An undergraduate student earning fewer than 9 units per quarter or fewer than 36 units over three quarters, or earning less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, is placed on academic notice. (Students with documented disabilities who have been approved for a Reduced Course Load should contact the Office of Accessible Education for additional information.) Additionally, a student may be placed directly on academic probation or academic suspension (both further defined in this section) without first being placed on academic notice if the student had a prior academic notice status (or academic probation status prior to AY 2022-2023). Students with an academic notice status are required, in the next quarter of enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), to earn a minimum of 12 units of new course work with a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA by the grade submission deadline, and also achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in order to attain a satisfactory academic progress status. Students with an academic probation status are required, in each quarter for two (2) quarters of consecutive enrollment at the University (excluding Summer; to earn a minimum of 12 units of new course work with a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA per quarter by the grade submission deadline, and also achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in order to attain a satisfactory academic progress status. The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) may stipulate otherwise by acting upon a request for fewer units (i.e. Reduced Course Load).
A Stanford Summer Session quarter may count (upon request) toward the above conditions for academic notice or academic probation if 11 or more units are earned.
Full-time enrollment is considered to be enrollment in a minimum of 12 units of course work per quarter at Stanford. Under extenuating circumstances, students may submit a request to the C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) to take fewer units. As a general proposition, work necessary to complete units from previous quarters does not count toward the 12 units necessary for full-time enrollment in the current quarter. All students registering for fewer than 12 units should consider the effects of that registration on their degree progress, visas, residency requirements, varsity athlete status, and their eligibility for financial aid and awards or their eligibility for or deferment of student loans, as well as their eligibility for on-campus student employment.
All undergraduates validly registered at Stanford are considered to be in good standing for the purposes of enrollment certification and athletic participation.
Units are granted for courses completed with grades 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' 'D,' 'Satisfactory' ('CR' or 'S'), and 'L.' Courses graded 'N' are counted provisionally as units earned, provided the student enrolls in the continuing segment of that course the following quarter. When the course is completed satisfactorily, the student receives all units for those enrollments. No units are granted for a course in which the student receives an 'I' or a 'GNR' ('GNR' replaced the '*' effective Autumn Quarter 2009-10) until the course is completed satisfactorily and the final grade reported. No units are granted for a course in which the student receives a 'W'.
Students who receive all 'W's as the result of a Leave of Absence (either voluntary or involuntary) are subject to Academic Progress policies.
The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP), in its discretion, is empowered to place conditions on students with an academic progress status (e.g., academic notice, academic probation, etc.) with regard to enrollment and participation in programs and activities. In addition, students with an academic notice status require approval in advance from Academic Advising, Residential Education, and the Overseas Studies Program office or Stanford in Washington Program office or Stanford in New York or Stanford at Sea in order to participate in Stanford's Overseas Studies Program or Stanford in Washington Program or Stanford in New York or Stanford at Sea; while students on other statuses (e.g., academic probation, etc.) are ineligible to participate in these programs.
Students receiving federal student aid funds must maintain satisfactory academic progress standards that may be more strict than those outlined here. See the Financial Aid Office website for details.
Undergraduate Academic Notice
A student who earns fewer than 9 units by the grade submission deadline in the most recent quarter of enrollment, or fewer than 36 units over the three most recent quarters of enrollment (excluding Summer) by the third grade submission deadline, or who has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 may be placed on academic notice.
A student shall be removed from academic notice if, in their next quarter of enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), the student earns a minimum of 12 units of new course work with a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA by the grade submission deadline, and achieves and maintains a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. A student may also be removed from academic notice at the discretion of the C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) or its designees as a result of a review of individual records.
Undergraduate Academic Probation
A student who, while on academic notice, earns fewer than 12 units by the grade submission deadline, earns a quarterly GPA below 2.0, or has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 may be placed on an academic probation status. In addition, and on occasion, a student may also be placed directly on academic probation without first being placed on academic notice if the student has had a prior academic notice status.
A student shall be removed from academic probation if, in each of two (2) subsequent quarters of consecutive enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), the student earns a minimum of 12 units of new course work with a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA by the end of the grade submission deadline, and achieves and maintains a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. A student may also be removed from academic probation at the discretion of the C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) or its designees as a result of a review of individual records.
Undergraduate Academic Suspension
A student who, during either quarter of academic probation, earns fewer than 12 units by the grade submission deadline, earns a quarterly GPA below 2.0, or has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 may be placed on academic suspension. In addition, and on occasion, a student may also be placed on academic suspension directly from academic notice; or may be placed on academic suspension without first being placed on academic notice or academic probation if the student has had a prior academic notice (or, academic probation status prior to AY 2022-2023).
While students placed on academic suspension for the first time are suspended for one year, students placed on academic suspension a subsequent time may be suspended for up to three years.
Students suspended for one year are not eligible to enroll for four quarters (including Summer Quarter) following the quarter in which the academic suspension was issued. Students suspended for up to three years are not eligible to enroll for up to twelve quarters (including Summer Quarter) following the quarter in which the academic suspension was issued.
Students are expected to complete their academic suspension in full. As well, until reinstatement, students who are suspended are ineligible for the privileges associated with registration, privileges that include living in University housing, participating in voluntary student organizations, and involvement in any activity for which enrollment is a requirement. Finally, students who have been suspended are not permitted to audit.
The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) or its designees, in its discretion, may impose conditions of the academic suspension, and/or to a return from the academic suspension.
Reconsideration of Academic Suspension
Students who receive an academic suspension and believe they have information that presents relevant and compelling material previously unknown to the Subcommittee or its designees, such that reconsideration for immediate continuation of their studies without a break in enrollment is suitable, should meet with an Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD) from the office of Academic Advising under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) to discuss their circumstances. Students with such relevant circumstances may submit a Request for Reconsideration of Academic Suspension. Granting such requests is at the discretion of the Subcommittee or its designees, and may be based on factors or considerations regarded as relevant including the demonstrated or perceived likelihood for immediate academic success. Requests for reconsideration submitted after the deadline are not accepted. A student may also grieve an academic suspension under the Student Academic Grievance Procedure.
An academic suspension may not be substituted, in part or in whole, by a Leave of Absence.
Returning from Suspension
In order to request re-enrollment after the suspension period has been completed, students are required to submit an application for reinstatement by way of a properly endorsed Request to Register in Undergraduate Study form. Instructions, including deadlines for requesting to return, should be obtained from the office of Academic Advising, under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE). The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP), or those designated by the subcommittee, acts upon all requests concerning academic progress and its statuses, including a Request to Return and Register after completion of the academic suspension. The subcommittee or its designees may determine whether the application for reinstatement to return will be approved or not, and/or the conditions a student must meet in order to return. Request to Return and Register decisions are at the discretion of the University and may be based on activities while away from campus, the perceived potential for successful completion of the program, as well as any other factors or considerations regarded as relevant to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or the subcommittee or its designees.
Students who return from an academic suspension receive the academic progress status "academic probation", and must adhere to and comply with the policies above and elsewhere related to that status upon their return. Questions concerning academic progress or requests to return should be directed to the office of Academic Advising, under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE).
Students returning from academic suspension should also contact appropriate campus offices, such as Housing and Financial Aid, regarding those offices' deadlines and procedures.
Notification (Academic Progress)
Written notification that a student is on academic notice, academic probation, or academic suspension is sent to the student, to the student's academic advisor(s), and to other relevant university offices and individuals as soon as possible after the close of the quarter. Students also receive written notification of the outcome of their Request for Reconsideration of Academic Suspension, or their Request to Return and Register after completion of their academic suspension. Current student status, such as whether a student is enrolled or not, is considered Directory Information for the purposes of FERPA at Stanford, and Stanford may provide either parent(s) or guardian(s) written notification of a change in student status. Provided that a student consents, or the student is a dependent for income tax purposes, Stanford may also provide either parent(s) or guardian(s) written notification that the student is on academic notice, academic probation, academic suspension, or Leave of Absence (either voluntary or involuntary). Other FERPA exceptions may also apply.
Implementation Information
Questions regarding undergraduate academic progress, and academic progress statuses, should be directed to the office of Academic Advising, under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE). The office of Academic Advising can be contacted by email at: advising@stanford.edu.
Contact Information
The office of Academic Advising, under the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE)